Sealing joints for curtain walls

ABSTRACT

Sealing joints for curtain walls consisting of juxtaposed panels mounted in a building framework skeleton are provided which comprise horizontal and vertical joint-sealing members which interengage in an overlapping manner so as to prevent rain from percolating through the wall. The horizontal members have downwardly directed external flaps which overlie the vertical members at cross-over points of the horizontal and vertical members.

United States Patent Plom July 8, 1975 [54] SEALING JOINTS FOR CURTAIN WALLS 2,985,263 5/1961 Maciunas 52/403 I 3,223,209 12/l965 Skromeda.... 52/461 X [751 PwguesJesEauX, 3,353,3l6 ll/l967 Berg A 52/469 x Framm 3,359,700 l2/l967 Birum 52/459 X 3,373,537 3/l968 Blaydenm, 52/465 X [73 1 Assgnee' g xg Mapa Grenoble 3,766,698 10/1973 Dallen 52/235 x 3,844,087 10/!974 Schultz 52/463 X [22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1974 Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. [2H Appl' 501526 Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlan H. Levine [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Sept. l9, 1973 France 73.33568 Sealing joints for curtain walls consisting ofjuxtaposed panels mounted in a building framework skeleton are [52] U.S. Cl. 52/235; 52/403; 52/461 provided which comprise horizontal and vertical joint- [51] Int. Cl." E04B 2/88; E04B 1/66 sealing members which interengage in an overlapping [58] Field of Search 52/235, 393, 402, 403, manner so as to prevent rain from percolating through 52/461, 463, 460, 459, 469, 465, 466 the wall. The horizontal members have downwardly directed external flaps which overlie the vertical mem- [56] References Cited bers at cross-over points of the horizontal and vertical members.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ulullllllllllllllll'lll-lllll SHEET PATENTEDJUL 8 1975 SEALING JOINTS FOR CURTAIN WALLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns systems of joints intended to ensure a tight seal in curtain walls.

The curtain walls which are employed at the present time for the cladding of buildings are usually made up of an assembly of juxtaposed panels supported on a suitable skeleton framework. With such a mode of construction it is important that good tightness should be achieved at right angles to the lines of separation between the panels so as to avoid. in particular, the percolation of water and dust between the latter and the skeleton framework.

In this technical field, in order to ensure tightness between the separate panels which make up a curtain wall, sealing systems have been proposed which consist ofa lattice of vertical profiled joints and horizontal profiled joints which are suitably maintained in compression on the parallel and adjacent exterior edges either of two neighbouring panels or of one panel and the skeleton framework.

The essential difficulty which arises in such systems is that of ensuring tightness at the position where the vertical and horizontal joints cross. In effect, it is desirable to avoid any possibility of leakage, of water in particular. at the various crossings of the joints, while at the same time preserving a satisfactory aesthetic appearance for such joints.

In order to do this, joint elements in the form of a cross to be situated at such crossings have already been proposed. Such elements are a considerable nuisance. requiring delicate installation and possessing doubtful efficiency.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system of sealing joints for curtain walls which is economic and quick to install and of an aesthetically satisfactory nature, and in which the tightness in the region of the crossings of the vertical and horizontal joints is ensured, particularly insofar as concerns rainwater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The system according to the invention is characterised in that each horizontal joint is provided with an external flap orientated downwards and that each vertical joint is interrupted at the position of crossing with each horizontal joint and is mounted in such a way that the upper interrupted extremity of the vertical joint is applied in an overlapping manner on to the upper edge of the horizontal joint concerned, while the lower interrupted extremity is arranged below the flap of this lat- ICI.

With such an arrangement of the joints, it will be clear that rainwater, when running over curtain walls equipped in this way, cannot percolate between the panels and the supporting skeleton, on account of the overlapping of one joint over the other in the system as in the laying of tiles. In effect, the lower extremity of that part of each vertical joint which is situated above a horizontal joint overlaps the upper edge of this latter joint, while, in its turn, the flap of the horizontal joint overlaps the upper extremity of that part of the vertical joint which is situated below the horizontal joint in question.

Preferably, each horizontal joint, at the position of crossing with each vertical joint. is notched in its lower part which is situated beneath the flap so as to allow the corresponding lower cut-oft extremity of said vertical joint to be arranged beneath the latter. Such a notch thus avoids an excess thickness at the position of crossing which might be inconvenient both from the aesthetic point of view and from the point of view of tightness.

According to a preferred arrangement, each joint is kept under compression in the curtain wall by means of a rigid maintaining bar which is fixed at various points by screwing, with interposition of spacing devices. to the supporting skeleton. Such spacing devices make it possible to regulate the compression of the joint once for all so that the joint can thus be easily mounted in conditions ensuring the greatest possible tightness. In addition, the regularity of the compression achieved by means of these spacing devices gives to the joint a constant efficiency to the joint over its whole length as well as a satisfactory external appearance (constant breadth. no local squeezing or, on the other hand. expansion).

The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, referring to the attached drawings, given solely as an example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a view in schematic elevation, with partial stripping, of a system of sealing joints according to the invention, and

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views on an enlarged scale, along the lines II-II, III|II. IVIV. and V-\/ of FIG. 1, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. I, the references 10a, lOb, 10c and 10d denote four of the juxtaposed relatively thin plate panels which are conveniently fixed by any known means (not illustrated) on to a skeleton framework l2 of a building (see FIGS. 2-5) in order to make up that which is customarily called a curtain wall, such a curtain wall being intended essentially to clad the facade of said building. As is shown more particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the panels and "lb are constituted. for example, by a double glazing suitably supported on the skeleton framework 12 with the interposition ofa joint 14, while the panels 100 and 10d are constituted by a relatively thick single glazing supported in the same way as the double glazing 10a and 10b of the skeleton framework I2, with the interposition of a joint 16 similar to the joint 14. In these FIGS. 4 and 5 it will be noted that a filling element I is conveniently arranged between the lower edges of the panels 100 and 10b and the skeleton framework 12, in such a way as to support, at least partially, the weight of these panels in the vertical direction.

In order to ensure a tight seal between the panels such as 10a, 10b, lOc and 10d which make up the curtain wall, the invention proposes a system of joints which essentially make up a lattice of vertical profiled joints, such as 20, and horizontal profiled joints, such as 22, each of these joints being maintained in compression on the parallel and adjacent exterior edges of two neighbouring panels, in such a way as to ensure a tight seal between these panels in relation to external agents such as rainwater. It is understood that each of the horizontal joints 22 and the vertical joints 20 could also be arranged between the edge of one panel 10 and the adjacent parallel edge of the supporting skeleton framework.

Considering more particularly FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the horizontal profiled joints 22 is made up of two groups of straight-line lips. 24 and 26 respectively, connected together by a relatively plane central part 28, which constitutes the body of the joint. and an external flap 30, orientated downwards, and fixed at its base to the upper edge of the body of the joint 28, at the position of the commencement of the lips 24. Rigid metallic bars 32, such as hoop irons, are connected to the skeleton framework 12 by any convenient means such as screws 34. Bars 32 thus maintain the joint 22 by compression, said joint being applied to the adjacent horizontal edges of two neighbouring panels, the squashing of the lips 24 and 26 on to the contiguous panels, or between one panel and the skeleton framework, ensuring the tight seal of the separation between these panels and the skeleton framework. For reasons which will become apparent in the following. each horizontal joint 22 extends in a continuous manner along the whole length of the curtain wall while the maintaining bars 32 of those joints are interrupted at the position of each of the crossings of the corresponding horizontal joint with the various vertical joints 20 of the lattice.

Each of the profiled vertical joints 20 is, advantageously, of the type represented in section in FIG. 3 and is made up of two straight-line lips, or groups of lips, 36 and 38 joined together by a central part 40 forming the body of the joint. This latter part is hollow and has an internal space 42 of approximately rectangular form able to receive a rigid metallic bar 44, such as a hoop iron, capable of maintaining by compression the lips 36 and 38 of the joint 20 in contact with the vertical edges of two neighbouring panels, such as me and d, when it is fixed to the skeleton framework. As illustrated in HO. 1, the fixing of the bars 44, which maintain the joints 20, is ensured by a plurality of screws, such as 46. arranged in corresponding threaded holes, such as 48, formed in the skeleton framework.

At the level of each of the crossings of horizontal joints 22 and vertical joints 20, in accordance with the invention the corresponding vertical joint is interrupted and it is arranged that the upper interrupted extremity 50 of the joint 20 overlaps the upper edge of the horizontal joint 22 concerned, while the lower interrupted extremity 52 ofthe joint 20 is, for its part, arranged beneath the flap of the horizontal joint 22. In order to avoid any excess thickness the latter has, for this purpose, a notch 56 of suitable form in its lower part 54 which is situated beneath the flap 30 and into the interior of which the extremity 52 of the joint 20 is inserted. The maintaining bar 44 corresponding to the upper extremity of the vertical joint 20 ends at right angles to this extremity. On the contrary, the maintaining bar 44 corresponding to the lower extremity 52 of this vertical joint 20 prolongs the latter slightly upwards, as shown at 58, in such a way as to be applied to the un-notched upper part 60 of the body 28, which is situated under the flap 30 of the horizontal joint 22. This application is advantageously consolidated by providing, as illustrated, a fixing screw 46 in the immediate neighbourhood of the extremity 52, the flap 30 being able to conceal said screw in this arrangement.

As a variant, it is possible to provide a slight overlap of the joints at the position of crossing, causing the extremity 52 of the vertical joint to pass beneath the edges of the notch 56 in the horizontal joint in a mannor which. in particular. improves the tightness of the seal.

The successive overlapping of the joints 20 and 22 at the positions of crossing. in the manner employed in the laying of tiles. ensures good running of rainwater over the exterior surface of the curtain wall made up by the panels [0, in particular preventing the percolation ofwater as is liable to occur at the region ot'the extremities 52 of the vertical joints 20. It should also be noted that the overlapping of the extremities 50 on the upper edge (defined by the lips 24) of the joint 22 allows any water which may possibly pcrcolatc to be returned to the exterior.

The lattice ofjoints 20-22 has been described above in relation to vitreous panels. but it is. however. to be understood that said lattice may be used with any type of panel, planar or non-planar. tixcd by any suitable means to the skeleton framework.

1 claim:

1. in a curtain wall comprising a plurality of juxtaposed panel means,

a plurality of vertical profiled joints.

a plurality of horizontal profiled joints. and

fixing means maintaining said joints in compression on the exterior edges of said panels. said joints being arranged to form a lattice,

the improvement comprising;

external flap means provided to each of said horizontal joints with said flap means oriented downwardly, each of said horizontal joints interrupting at least one of said vertical joints and each ofsaid interrupted vertical joints having at least one interruption thereof whcreat an upper portion of said interrupted vertical joint overlaps on to the upper edge of the respective horizontal joint means and a lower portion of said interrupted vertical joint means is disposed beneath the respective flap means of said respective horizontal joint means.

2. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim I, wherein at the position of crossing with each vertical joint each horizontal joint is grooved in its lower part situated beneath the flap means so as to allow the arrangement of the corresponding lower interrupted extremity of said vertical joint beneath said flap means.

3. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim I, wherein each joint is maintained in compression on the curtain wall by means of a rigid maintaining bar which is fixed by screwing on to the skeleton framework supporting the curtain wall and which extends as far as the position of crossing of this joint with each of the joints which are perpendicular to it.

4. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 3, wherein each fixing means comprises a theaded element passed through a hole in the maintaining bar and screwed into tho skeleton framework.

5. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 3, wherein that portion of the bar which corresponds to each of said lower interrupted extremities of the vertical joint slightly prolongs said extremity upwards in such a way as to be applied to the ungrooved part of the horizontal joint corresponding to that extremity.

6. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 3, wherein each profiled joint has at least two lips separated by a central part against which the maintaining bar of the corresponding joint is applied.

7. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central part of each vertical joint is hollow in order to form an internal space able to receive the corresponding maintaining bar. 

1. In a curtain wall comprising a plurality of juxtaposed panel means, a plurality of vertical profiled joints, a plurality of horizontal profiled joints, and fixing means maintaining said joints in compression on the exterior edges of said panels, said joints being arranged to form a lattice, the improvement comprising; external flap means provided to each of said horizontal joints with said flap means oriented downwardly, each of said horizontal joints interrupting at least one of said vertical joints and each of said interrupted vertical joints having at least one interruption thereof whereat an upper portion of said interrupted vertical joint overlaps on to the upper edge of the respective horizontal joint means and a lower portion of said interrupted vertical joint means is disposed beneath the respective flap means of said respective horizontal joint means.
 2. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the position of crossing with each vertical joint each horizontal joint is grooved in its lower part situated beneath the flap means so as to allow the arrangement of the corresponding lower interrupted extremity of said vertical joint beneath said flap means.
 3. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 1, wherein each joint is maintained in compression on the curtain wall by means of a rigid maintaining bar which is fixed by screwing on to the skeleton framework supporting the curtain wall and which extends as far as the position of crossing of this joint with each of the joints which are perpendicular to it.
 4. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 3, wherein each fixing means comprises a theaded element passed through a hole in the maintaining bar and serewed into tho skeleton framework.
 5. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 3, wherein that portion of the bar which corresponds to each of said lower interrupted extremities of the vertical joint slightly prolongs said extremity upwards in such a way as to be applied to the ungrooved part of the horizontal joint corresponding to that extremity.
 6. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 3, wherein each profiled joint has at least two lips separated by a central part against which the maintaining bar of the corresponding joint is applied.
 7. System of sealing joints as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central part of each vertical joint is hollow in order to form an internal space able to receive the corresponding maintaining bar. 